Messaging in a home automation data transfer system

ABSTRACT

An automation network includes automation network devices connected to the network and a system layer interface that interfaces with a transport layer and an application layer of the automation network. The system layer interface includes messaging command libraries configured to implement human-readable messages for the automation network devices, where the automation network devices include at least one message output device. The system layer interface may provide commands and functions to establish messaging in the network, the length of supported messages, and scrolling of messages on output display devices.

PRIORITY CLAIM

The present application claims the benefit of priority of U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/733,514, “Data Transfer System,”filed Nov. 4, 2005, the contents of which are incorporated by referencein their entirety herein.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to U.S. patent application No. Ser. No.11/590,644 “Device Types and Units for a Home Automation Data TransferSystem,” U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/590,643, “Proxy Commandsand Devices for a Home Automation Data Transfer System,” U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/590,253 “Application Updating in a HomeAutomation Data Transfer System,” U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/590,685, “Remote Device Management in a Home Automation Data TransferSystem,” and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/590,672, “ProtocolIndependent Application Layer for an Automation Network,” all filed onthe same day herewith, the contents of which are all incorporated byreference in their entirety herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention is related to home automation networkorganization. In particular, the present invention is related tomessaging in a home automation network.

BACKGROUND

In developing a series of home automation devices, a large part ofdevelopment may be spent in repetitive tasks to create network interfacesoftware. These tasks may include adding and removing nodes from thenetwork, testing network connectivity, and updating network topology. Anumber of developers may develop offshoot products based on the homeautomation network. A large amount of time may be spent in trainingthese developers on the underlying protocol and on these repetitivetasks.

The current home automation network models may place the PC at thecenter of the home automation system. Users are required to have a PCrunning all the time to ensure proper operation. Once the PC is removedfrom the system, network and application software become difficult toupgrade in the field.

Further, home automation networks have, in the past, been designed fromand engineering point of view and may require large bandwidth tooperate. The user interface and system understanding may require a largeamount of technical background. Existing product development platformsmay require the developer to understand the underlying network protocolor mandate rewrites of software to accommodate new networks on which theapplications operate.

Existing software development platforms may not be portable to multiplenetwork protocols. Porting the applications may not be possible if thenetwork were expanded across different protocols. Also, interconnectingmultiple network protocols requires that a specialized device be made tomake each device look like its analog in the other protocol.

BRIEF SUMMARY

A system layer interface is disclosed. The system layer interface mayoperate between a transport layer and an application layer in a networkstack model. The system layer interface provides an abstractioninterface to implement the system layer, and applications to interfacewith the network transport layer without requiring the developer tounderstand or work with the network transport layer functionalitydirectly. The system layer interface may provide commands and functionsto establish messaging in the network, the length of supported messages,and scrolling of messages on output display devices.

A method that implements messaging in the home automation network isalso disclosed. A message display device is installed in the homeautomation network, where the message display device is configured todisplay a human-readable message indicating a status passed to themessage display device by the home automation network. The networkdetermines a messaging revision level indicating a currency of thesoftware included with the message display device. The message displaydevice is assigned to the home automation network when the messagedisplay device has a non-zero messaging display size. The messagingrevision level is compared with a most current messaging revision levelstored in the home automation network, and the message display device isdesignated as an output display device for network system messages to bedisplayed for the home automation network when the messaging revisionlevel is higher than the most current messaging revision level stored inthe home automation network.

Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the invention willbe, or will become, apparent to one with skill in the art uponexamination of the following figures and detailed description. It isintended that all such additional systems, methods, features andadvantages be included within this description, be within the scope ofthe invention, and be protected by the following claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention can be better understood with reference to the followingdrawings and description. The components in the figures are notnecessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustratingthe principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, likereferenced numerals designate corresponding parts throughout thedifferent views.

FIG. 1 is block diagram of a network abstraction model depicting asystem layer interface.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a system layer interface and a networksystem.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a of a home automation network.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a software architecture fordevice types and device units for a home automation network.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example process that implements device types andunits for a home automation network.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example process that organizes a home automationnetwork using proxy commands and proxy devices.

FIG. 7 is an example command packet for a firmware request command.

FIG. 8 is an example command packet for a firmware command.

FIG. 9 is an example command packet for a bulk data request command.

FIG. 10 is an example command packet for a bulk data command.

FIG. 11 is a process for updating application data in a network.

FIG. 12 is a process that implements messaging in a home automationnetwork.

FIG. 13 is a process for upgrading a remote device in a home automationnetwork.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a network abstraction block diagram 100. A networktransport layer, such as a first protocol network core 101 or a secondprotocol network core 102 may reside at the lowest level of the networklayers. The network transport layer 101 may include hardware and/orsoftware for implementing network transport functions for the network.The first protocol network core 101 and/or the second protocol networkcore 102 may provide transparent transfer of data between end users,relieving the upper layers from any concern with providing reliable andcost-effective data transfer. The transport layer controls thereliability of a given link. Some transport protocols may be connectionoriented, where the transport layer may track packets and retransmitthose that fail. The first protocol network core 101 and/or the secondprotocol network core 102 may implement protocols such as the Z-Wave®home automation transport protocol. Other network protocols, such ascommercial, industrial, hospital, or home healthcare network protocolsmay be implemented.

An application layer, such as a protocol independent product 120 mayreside at the highest level of the network abstraction layers. Theapplication layer 120 may interface directly to and perform commonapplication services for the application processes. The applicationservices may provide semantic conversion between associated applicationprocesses. Examples of applications for a home automation network mayinclude user-selected room environment set-up, text messaging GUI's forthe network, scene scheduling, and other GUI-based applications adeveloper may provide for a network, such as applications for Z-Wavehardware-enabled products using a Z-Wave®-enabled ASIC manufactured byZensys, from Copenhagen, DK, and for Z-Wave® and protocol independentapplication layer hardware and/or software enabled products manufacturedby Intermatic from Spring Grove, Ill., U.S. A software interface layer,such as the system layer interface 110, resides between the firstprotocol network core 101 and/or the second protocol network core 102and the application layer 120 in the network abstraction 100. The systemlayer interface 110 may provide the library of commands and/or functionsto allow developers to create applications that may utilize the firstprotocol network core 101 and/or the second protocol network core 102without having to know the protocols for the first protocol network core101 and/or the second protocol network core 102. The system layerinterface 110 may also provide logic and/or libraries to store detailedinformation and descriptions of devices interfaced to the networkunderlying the system layer interface 110, which may also allow adeveloper to create applications without needing to know the networktransport layer protocols.

The system layer interface 110 may allow the development of futureapplications (121 or 130), such as scene setting 123 and status setting124 in a home automation network 122, firmware upgrades 125, device unitdescriptions 126 and/or device type descriptions 127, proxy commandfunctions 128, and core libraries or software upgrades such as coreupgrades (122 and 129) for the first protocol network core 101 and thesecond protocol network core 102, respectively. The system layerinterface 110 may provide a software development kit utilizing thelibraries of commands and/or functions to generate these newapplications and core functions. The system layer interface 110 may alsoprovide command libraries to implement data transfer through bridging140 between the first protocol network core 101 and the second protocolnetwork core 102, or any other network cores. The system layer canprovide this bridging functionality without user intervention orknowledge.

The system layer interface 110 may be encoded in a computer readablemedium such as a floppy disk, compact disc (CD), digital versatile disc(DVD), or may be stored in non-volatile memory such as Flash, EPROMs,EEPROMs, MRAM, FRAM, hard disk drive, holographic memory or other solidstate memory. The system layer interface 110 may be loaded into avolatile memory such as DRAM or SRAM for execution. The system layerinterface 110 may be encoded for transmission in a propagated signal asa series of instructions. The system layer interface 110 may be encodedas logic either as software for execution by a processor or as logiccircuits for executing the code comprising the system layer interface110. The system layer interface 110 may interface with or integrate withan embedded processor, microprocessor, ASIC, memory device, memorycontroller, and/or other semiconductor devices.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a system layer interface 110 interfacedwith a network system 230. In one embodiment, the system layer interface110 comprises a protocol-independent application layer. The system layerinterface 110 may include a plurality of command libraries 215 thatimplement the protocol independent application layer. The commandlibraries 215 may include functions, scripts, application programminginterfaces (APIs), and tools that implement network transport layerprotocol commands, routing, packetization, data encapsulation, frequencyconversion between networks, and/or media access functions.

The system layer interface 110 may be configured to supersede particularnetwork layer protocols. By providing a high-level language to describeunderlying network interactions, a programmer may then not need to knowthe protocols of the networks within the network system 230. The systemlayer interface 110 provides a protocol-independent abstractioninterface to implement the application layer. The system layer interface110 may provide interfaces to the network transport layer withoutrequiring the developer to understand or work with the network transportlayer functionality directly. By providing a library of commands and/orfunctions for application development related to an underlying network,and by storing detailed information about devices in the network, thisabstraction may simplify the network interface and may enable rapidsoftware development for use with the network.

The system layer interface 110 may allow access to the underlyingnetwork and hardware, while still maintaining the abstraction. Thesystem layer interface 110 may allow implementation of advanced featuresets that may utilize the hardware directly. The system layer interface110 may accelerate device implementation and allow core functionality tobe added. Examples of software applications that may be developed withthe system layer interface may include human readable devicedescription, unit assignment, scene definition and activation for homeautomation systems, two way status information, system messaging,network room organization for a home automation system, and firmwareupgrades.

The system layer interface 110 may be configured to interface with thenetwork system 230 to allow data transfer within the network system 230and maintain cohesion between the networks. The network system 230 maycomprise a plurality of networks 240, 250, 260, and 270 in communicationwith each other. The networks 240, 250, 260, and 270 may operate withtransport protocols different from each other, or they may run the sameprotocols. For example, network 1 (240) may comprise a home automationnetwork, such as a Z-Wave® network, network 2 (250) may comprise aZigbee network, network 3 (260) may comprise a TCP/IP network, andnetwork 4 (270) may include a second Z-Wave® network. Other examples ofnetworks include Echelon networks, WiFi networks, Bluetooth networks,WiMax networks, cellular networks such as Global System forCommunications (GSM), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), TimeDivision Multiple Access (TDMA), Advanced Mobile Phone Systems (AMPS),point-to-point networks such a Canopy network, microwave-based networks,radio spectrum networks, hospital and home healthcare networks, suchWireless Medical Telemetry Service (WMTS) networks, and other RF andwired networks.

The networks 240, 250, 260, and 270 may include network nodes incommunication with the networks. For examples, nodes 241 and 242 may bein communication with network 1 (240), nodes 251 and 252 may be incommunication with network 2 (250), node 261 may be in communicationwith network 3 (260) and node 271 may be in communication with network 4(270). The nodes 241, 242, 251, 252, 261, and 271 may be coupledwirelessly or through a wired interfaced with each other. Examples ofnodes include home or office automation devices, servers, routers,desktop computers, laptop, notebook, or portable computers, personaldigital assistants (PDAs), cellular telephones, smart phones, mobileelectronic devices, mainframes, network appliances and/or networkcomputers, or other network devices.

The networks 240, 250, 260, and 270 may each include a plurality ofconnection modules, such as bridges 245, 255, 265 and 275. The bridges245, 255, 265 and 275 may provide a connection between each of thenetworks. The bridges 245, 255, 265 and 275 may comprise one-to-oneconnections between the networks, or may comprise broadcast nodes.Though the bridges illustrated in FIG. 2 show connections between afirst network and a second network, other connections between thenetworks 240, 250, 260, and 270 may be possible. The bridges 245, 255,265, and 275 are configured to transfer data between the networks usingcommands, such as transport layer commands. The bridges 245, 255, 265and 275 may format, convert, or encapsulate the data to transmit thedata to another network. The system layer interface 110 may beconfigured to direct a bridge in transmitting data, without a programmerknowing the transport protocols associated with the bridge or networks.The bridges 245, 255, 265 and 275 may comprise routers, hubs, servers,broadcast devices or other interface modules.

The system layer interface 110 may include a node map 220 and a bridgetable 225. The node map 220 may store the list of nodes 241, 242, 245,251, 252, 255, 261, 265, 271, and 275 interfaced to the network system230. The system layer interface 110 may use the node map 220 to locate aparticular node, a set of nodes, or other combinations of nodes. Thebridge table 225 may be configured to store data related to the bridges245, 255, 265 and 275. The bridge table 225 may retain informationrelated to bridge location, network protocols, transport layerprotocols, available transmission inputs and outputs for the bridge, andother network bridge data. The bridge table 225 may be used by thesystem layer interface 110 to determine a network interface mapping forthe nodes.

The system layer interface 110 may be used to route data between nodes.For example, the system layer interface 110 may provide commands and/orapplications to route data from node 241 to node 271. The system layerinterface 110 may determine locations of node 241 and node 271 retainedin the node map 220. The system layer 110 may then determine a sequenceor a combination of bridges that may allow data transfer between node241 and node 271. For example, based on data retained in the bridgetable 225, the system layer interface 110 may be used to route data viabridge 245 to bridge 255. As another example, the system layer interface110 may route data via bridge 265 to bridge 275. The specific way thedata is transferred through each protocol is determined by thatprotocol. Other data routing schemes may be possible. The system layerinterface 110 provides the commands and/or instructions to implement thedata transfer, including data formatting, conversion, frequencyconversion, data encapsulation, encryption, and/or other networktransport functions. The abstraction contained in the system layerinterface 110 may allow a programmer to develop applications for nodesin the network system 230 without having to know the network protocolsof each network. To the programmer, the nodes may all appearfunctionally to be running a same protocol scheme related to theapplication interface provided by the system layer interface 110. Usingthe node table, both products developed with the abstraction layer andwithout it can be utilized in routing messages as each particularnetwork protocol allows.

The node map 220 and the bridge table 225 may comprise a database, suchas a structured query language (SQL) database or other relationaldatabase, an ordered list of data structures, a text file, or other datafile. The node map 220 and the bridge table 225 may also compriserecords, each record containing fields together with a set of operationsfor searching, sorting, recombining, and other functions. The node map220 and the bridge table 225 may be stored in a non-volatile memory suchas an EPROM, EEPROM, Flash, or other semiconductor and/or solid statememory such as bubble memory, MRAM, FRAM, or holographic memory. Thenode map may also be stored in a volatile memory, such as a DRAM orSRAM, a removable medium such as a floppy disk, CD, DVD, Syquest, Zip, ahard disk drive, or a magneto-optical drive.

The system layer interface 110 may store detailed information describingdevices in a network. Examples of such information include whether thedevice understands the system layer interface protocol, what commandseach device in the network may accept, the battery or power level ofeach device, whether the device supports messaging, and if so, ifscrolling messages are supported and the length of the messagesupported, as well as the status of the outputs of every device in thenetwork. The system layer interface may provide a central location fordefining every scene in a home automation network. This may allow a userof the network to edit scenes for devices with limited user interfaceswith those that have complicated graphical user interfaces (GUI's). Thesystem layer interface may be provided through a protocol independentapplication layer product, network, or software system.

In addition to nodes in a network, nodes that are not “networksystem”-aware may be brought into the network system 230 when a “networksystem”-aware node is added into the network system 230. In other words,even though a node doesn't know about the other networks in the networksystem 230, the network system 230 knows about the node. This allows anynetwork system aware node in the network control and interface with allthe nodes in the network system 230. The system layer interface 110 maybe used to manage the connection and interface of nodes added to thenetwork system 110. The system layer interface 110 may update the nodemap 120 and/or the bridge table 230 to allow the network system 230 tobe made aware of the added node.

The present system may allow for a decentralized home, commercial,industrial, hospital, home healthcare, or other automation network witha network abstraction layer that allows for rapid product developmentand the ability to change the underlying network protocol withoutmassive rewrite of software. The present system may also allow for theability to upgrade network and application firmware using the networkand without a PC.

Networks

The system layer interface may be configured to interface with differenttypes of networks. One example network for which the system layerinterface may be suitable is a home automation network. The system layerinterface may be configured to interact with other network examples aswell. FIG. 3 illustrates a home network environment 300 which mayinclude a number of electrical and electronic appliances, such aslights, controlled by a network of node devices or slave devices 301 andcontrollers 305. The home network environment 300 may include one ormore distinct rooms 302, 303, though these rooms 302, 303 may be joinedor portioned as desired. The controllers 305 may activate the slavedevices 301 by communicating across the network from room to room. Slavedevices 301 and controllers 305 may be powered by battery devices suchas standard alkaline battery cells, rechargeable battery cells like NiCdor Li-ion cells, or powered by connection to wall outlets.

The network 300 is configured to route commands and signals betweendifferent controllers 305 and slave devices 301 in the network.Communication includes wireless, such as radio frequency (RF),microwave, infrared, or other wireless communication, and/or wiredcommunications. The controllers 305 are devices that may be incommunication with the network, and may be activated and manipulated bybuttons present on the controller 305. A user may press the buttons onthe controllers 305 to send commands to the slave devices 301 in thenetwork to change a state of a component of the slave device 301, suchas a relay or triac. The controller 305 may also be activated in otherways, such as by voice. Since the slave device 301 may supply power tothe electrical or electronic appliance, a change in state of thecomponent of the slave device 301 may in turn change the state of theelectrical or electronic appliances.

Libraries

The system layer interface 110 may provide a library of functions toimplement commands. The commands may be used to interface with theunderlying network transport layer. The interface may provide commandsfor a user interface to the hardware of the network and commands toimplement network structure. User defined commands may include theimplementation of the slave devices described above, user interfaces,scene activation, scene dimming, and status. Examples of networkstructure commands include starting network activity, adding or removingdevices, setting up routing between devices, and identifying devices.The system layer interface 110 may also provide functions for passinginformation from the network to a user, such as request functions,interpretation function, and indicator commands for the devices. Thesystem layer interface 110 may also include links, references orpointers to the command libraries. The command libraries may be linkedto the system layer interface 110 at compilation, during run-time, ormay be integrated with the system layer interface 110. The commandlibraries may comprise dynamic link libraries (DLLs) or staticlibraries.

Device Types

FIG. 4 illustrates a software architecture that implements device typesand units for a home automation unit. The system layer interface 110 mayprovide a process to enhance the identification of device in anunderlying network, such as a home automation network. The interface 110may provide command libraries, such as a device type command library 405and a device unit command library 410, to allow adding a “humanreadable” device type or description and units as an additional layer ofdescription for the network description for each device. Typically,switches in a home automation network may be binary switches, such as anon/off light switch or other power switch. The interface 110 may providetext and/or alphanumeric descriptions of the switch. The device typesmay be centrally controlled, updated, maintained, and controlled in thenetwork 300. For example, a switch 450 on the wall may be provided, bythe system layer interface 110, with a device type 455 or descriptionsuch as “wall switch,” or “dimmer.” A home security PIR 460 may beprovided with a device type 465 of a “PIR.” Other examples of “humanreadable” device descriptions include thermostats, PIRs, garage dooropeners, outdoor flood lights, light, temperature, sound, and humiditysensors, and other devices associated with a home automation network.The list of devices is not limited to those associated with a homeautomation network, as the “human readable” device description may beimplemented by the system layer interface 110 for other types ofnetworks as well.

A “human readable” device name may be implemented by the system layerinterface 110. The device name may be a specific instance of a devicetype, and may be changed dynamically. For example, the switch 450, whichmay be located in a home office, may be designated with a device name457 of “Home Office Wall Switch.” The PIR 460, which may be located at agarage, may be designated with a device name 467 of “Garage PIR.” Thedevice names may be controlled within the network 300, and may belocally updated or maintained. The “human readable” device descriptionsmay be associated with a hash table of values 415 so that a value, suchas a single byte value, may identify a device. This value may betransmitted in packets of data between devices, such as between a switchin a home automation network and a controller with a display outputtingthe device description. The “human readable” device description mayprovide more information than the information provided by the networktransport layer, so a user of the network will not need to be familiarwith the transport protocol and/or identification scheme of the networkdevices. This is an additional advantage of the abstraction provided bythe system layer interface 110.

The list of strings of “human readable” text for the descriptions may bestored in each of the devices to be identified. The list of strings maybe stored in a non-volatile memory such as an EPROM, EEPROM, Flash, orother semiconductor and/or solid state memory such as bubble memory,MRAM, FRAM, or holographic memory. The list of strings may also bestored in a volatile memory, such as a DRAM or SRAM, a removable mediumsuch as a floppy disk, CD, DVD, Syquest, Zip, a hard disk drive, or amagneto-optical drive. The memory may be resident in the network 300 ormay be remotely located or in communication with the network 300.

Devices to be included in the network may be programmed with an updatedlist before installed in the network. If the known devices in thenetwork encounter a device that has an unknown device type, the knowndevices ask the unknown device for the unknown device text description(i.e., the “human readable” description) and may add this textdescription to the known devices stored list of description strings. Thedevice type descriptions may be controlled centrally and one device typeID may correspond to one device type description. Therefore, newdescriptions may only need to be handled once when encountered by thenetwork.

Device Units

The system layer interface 110 may also provide a process to implement“human readable” units. “Human readable” units may provide an interfacefor a device status. Units may be similar to device types, and may beassociated with a hash table comprising single alphanumeric valuesassociated the “human readable” units. “Human readable” units mayprovide enhanced descriptions for device status. A binary switch, suchas a light switch, has a single binary output, or device unit 459 ofeither “ON” or “OFF.” A passive infrared sensor (PIR) sensor may havetwo binary outputs—one to arm or disarm the sensor, and a second for aswitch. If only two labels are available for the PIR, such as “ON/OFF”may be confusing. The system layer interface 110 may provide a processto add additional status labels for enhanced description of the devicestatus. With the PIR, the interface 110 may provide device units 469 orlabels such as “ON/OFF” for the switch and “ACTIVE/DISABLED” for thesensor. The user may then be able to distinguish the different states ofthe PIR.

A further example of a device that may use “human readable” unitsprovided by the system layer interface 110 is a fan controller. If thefan controller has three speeds, such as low, medium, and high, thedevice status may be encoded with a string providing information aboutthese states. The string may be organized so that the first character ofthe string may specify the maximum value of the device status for aparticular level (such as 0-33 as the range for low). The next charactermay describe the status (such as low, medium, or high). The strings maybe null-terminated. In the fan controller example, any first characterreading between 0 to 33 corresponds to a low status, a reading between34 to 66 corresponds to a medium status, and a reading between 67 to 99may correspond to a high status. The “human readable” units for a devicestatus may be parsed into any number of states (i.e. 5 levels, 50levels, etc). With the system layer interface 110 providing “humanreadable” units for the devices, the network may not need to develop newprotocols for each of these device status levels.

FIG. 5 illustrates example acts in a process that implementshuman-readable device types and units. The network 300 initializes, atact 502. The network 300 may perform start-up routines and boot checks,determine communication standards and operability, and load files foroperation. The network 300 loads command libraries, such as commandlibraries that implement functions for human-readable device types andunits, at act 504. The network 300 may determine a list of device typesor device units, such as human-readable device types and human-readabledevice units. The network 300 may access databases or files retained instorage units in communication with the network 300. The network 300 mayalso access storage units that are remote from the network 300, such asstorage units in other network domains or different network types, suchas non-home automation networks.

The network 300 identifies network devices in communication with thenetwork 300, at act 506. The network 300 may query the network devicesin serial, or in parallel. In some exemplary embodiments, the network300 may receive a transmission from each of the network devicesindicating their presence. The network 300 determines, at act 508, if anupdated list of human-readable device types or units is found in one ormore of the network devices identified in act 506. The network 300 maycompare the updated list from the list determined at act 504.

If the network 300 determines that there is not an updated list ofdevice types or units, the network 300 determines, at act 510, if thereare unknown device types in the network devices identified. When thenetwork 300 determines there are unknown device types, the network 300queries the unknown new device type from a network device, at act 512.The network 300 may determine the string properties, such as length,whether the string is text or alphanumeric, and whether it isnull-terminated. The network 300 adds the new device type to the list ofhuman-readable device types, at act 514.

If the network 300 determines, at act 508, that there is an updated listof human-readable device types, the network 300 updates the list ofhuman-readable device types stored in the hash table, at act 516. Thenetwork 300 may replace the original hash table with an updated hashtable, or the network 300 may add entries or update entries in the hashtable. The network 300 may transmit the updated list to the networkdevices, or to other network nodes coupled to the network 300. Thenetwork 300 may back-up or perform error checking on the updated hashtable to ensure data consistency.

After the list of human-readable device types is updated, or when thenetwork 300 determines that there are no unknown device types in thenetwork devices, or after the new device type has been added to the listof device types, the network 300 accesses the hash table and assignshuman-readable device types and names to the network devices, at act518. The network 300 may perform other acts in addition to the processdescribed in FIG. 5, such as data transport, scene setting, or othernetwork operations.

Room Organization

The system layer interface 110 may provide a process for categorizingnetwork devices into logical groupings. A network that contains a seriesof devices may be organized as appropriate based on the user's desiredstructuring. For example, an office may comprise a series of devicessuch as personal computers, printers, scanners, copiers, fax machines,laptops, wireless devices, and other electronic devices. An officemanager may desire to organize the electronic office devices intofunctional groups, such as those devices used by the accounting,marketing and legal department. As another example, a home automationnetwork may comprise devices, controllers, and servers associated withparticular rooms in a house or property environment. A user may want togroup the devices based on rooms, or buildings, if multiple buildingsare present on the property. The interface 110 may provide a method toimplement a room organization. Like device types and units, rooms may bebased on a hash table. The interface 110 may generate a hash tableassociating an identifier, such as one or more alphanumeric characters,with a logical grouping such as a room, office area, or functional unit.The interface 110 may then assign selected devices the logical groupingidentifier within the hash table. Each network may have its own list oflogical groupings created through a GUI or other user interface.

Proxy Commands and Devices

The system layer interface 110 may implement proxy commands and proxydevices. A proxy device is a device designated by the system layerinterface 110 to accept commands and/or messages to be relayed ortransmitted through another medium to another device. The medium may runa protocol different from the protocol that the proxy device or othernetwork devices may be running. In a home automation network, the use ofproxy commands by the system layer interface 110 may enablebattery-powered devices, not actively communicating with the network, toreceive application layer commands through a listening device designatedas a proxy by the interface. For example, a home automation network mayprovide a handheld remote that may be placed in a base charger.

The handheld may request, through the serial connection between thehandheld remote and the base charger, that the base charger bedesignated a proxy device for the handheld remote. The base chargerinforms the system layer interface 110 through a data packet that thebase charger is now the proxy device for that handheld remote.Information and/or commands that the network may transmit to thehandheld remote may be sent to the base charger which then passes thecommands through the serial connection to the handheld remote. Thisallows a handheld which is not actively in network to conserve batteryand so may be seen as static device and updated in real time.

The system layer interface 110 may facilitate interaction betweendifferent protocols, even if the protocols operate on different media.

The system layer interface 110 provides proxy commands to implementproxy device organization. Proxy Commands may be used to pass commandsfrom one device to another through an alternate media, like a serialport. A Proxy Request Command packet, illustrated below, may be used tosend a request for any destinations for whom the recipient is a proxy.

PROXY REQUEST

A Proxy Assign Command, illustrated below, may reroute commands foranother node through the sender.

PROXY ASSIGN Target Node ID

The Target Node ID (8 bit) indicates the Node whose commands arererouted.

A Proxy Assignment Command may report whose commands the recipient isproxy for.

PROXY ASSIGNMENT Target Node ID

The Target Node ID (8 bit) indicates the Node for whom the recipient isproxy.

A Proxy command, illustrated below, may send a command to another node.

PROXY Target Node ID Embedded Command

The Target Node ID (8 bit) indicates the eventual destination of thecommand.

An Embedded Command packet indicates the encapsulated command to deliverto the destination.

FIG. 6 illustrates a process that organizes a home automation networkusing proxy commands and proxy devices. The network 300 initializes, atact 602. The network 300 may perform start-up routines and boot checks,determine communication standards and operability, and load files foroperation. The network 300 loads command libraries, such as commandlibraries that implement functions for proxy commands and proxy devicedesignations, at act 604. The network 300 may access databases or filesretained in storage units in communication with the network 300. Thenetwork 300 may also access storage units that are remote from thenetwork 300, such as storage units in other network domains or differentnetwork types, such as non-home automation networks.

The network 300 identifies network devices in communication with thenetwork 300, at act 606. The network 300 may query the network devicesin serial, or in parallel. In some exemplary embodiments, the network300 may receive a transmission from each of the network devicesindicating their presence.

The network 300 determines if a proxy device is designated by a networkdevice, at act 608. For example, a handheld remote associated with abattery charger base may designate the battery charger to be the proxydevice associated with the handheld remote. The handheld remote maycommunicate with the battery charger using a serial connection. Thehandheld may request, through the serial connection between the handheldremote and the base charger, that the base charger be designated a proxydevice for the handheld remote. The base charger informs the systemlayer interface 110 through a data packet that the base charger is nowthe proxy device for that handheld remote.

If the network 300 determines that there are no proxy devices in thenetwork 300, the network may route data packets, such as commands ormessages, to a network device directly, at act 610. If, in contrast, thenetwork 300 determines that a proxy device has been designated, thenetwork 300 may transmit a proxy get command to the destination networkdevice, to which data packets are to be sent, at act 612. The network300 determines if a data packet is received from the proxy device, atact 614, indicating that the proxy device is ready to accept commands ormessages on behalf of the associated network device. If the data packetis not received, the network 300 may wait for the data packet, at act616. If the data packet is received from the proxy device, the network300 routes commands and/or messages to the network device via the proxydevice, at act 618. Using the example above, information and/or commandsthat the network 300 may transmit to the handheld remote may be sent tothe base charger which then passes the commands through the serialconnection to the handheld remote. Other network devices may be used, aswell as designated as proxy devices. The network device may communicatewith the proxy device through a wired or wireless connection. Examplesof wired connections include coaxial, RCA, twisted pair, USB, Firewire,and other wired connections. Examples of wireless connections includeBluetooth, WiFi, Zigbee, cellular, infrared (IrDa), WiMax, microwave,and satellite transmissions.

Application Updates

The system layer interface 110 may be used to implement methods fortransferring large amounts of data around an underlying network. Themethod utilizes the transport layer of the base underlying network. Themethod may be used to transmit GUI updates, application updates,application enhancements, network updates, or any other largeinformation packets required for transmission between devices. Theseupdates may originate within the underlying network, or from a sourceexternal to the underlying network. Updates may be distributed throughthe Internet, compact disc (CD) releases, wired or wireless interfacesto the network, or through devices, installed in the network, that areconfigured to update other devices in the network.

The system layer interface 110 may be utilized to generate installersoftware code equipped with a current copy of software to be utilized byor on the network. After installation of the network and/or networkdevices, the installer software code may update devices on the networkto ensure the devices have the latest software. Existing device GUI'smay be updated when new software is provided with new devices installedin the network. Application programmers may utilize the system layerinterface 110 to develop applications that interface or function in oron the network. These applications may be distributed through theInternet, through a wired or wireless interface to the network, or assoftware or firmware installed on devices that may interface 110 withthe network.

The system layer interface 110 may provide commands to implement theupgrade process. A command may be sent along with a data transfercommand. Examples of commands include request and data commands. Arequest command may be used to request the next packet to be sent acrossthe network. A data command may be used to program the firmware orsoftware of a target device. Examples of data transfer commands includefirmware upgrade commands, software upgrade commands, and bulk datacommands. These commands may specify what type of data is to beprocessed.

The commands for data transfer may be configured as packets with anumber of byte-length identifying fields. Examples of identifying fieldsmay include the data transfer command type, the identification of thedevice to be upgraded, identifier fields for the next packets to beprocessed (such as an index of the packet requested and used foraddressing), error checking fields comprising data used for errorchecking, data type fields (used when bulk data is transferred in thenetwork), and payload fields (comprising the firmware, software, or bulkdata to be programmed or transferred).

FIG. 7 illustrates an example Firmware Request command packet. The firstbyte 701 identifies the data transfer command, “firmware request” inthis example. The second byte 702 identifies the processor for thedevice that is to be upgraded. The third byte 703 identifies the mostsignificant byte index of the packet requested, which may also be usedfor addressing. The fourth byte 704 identifies the least significantbyte for the index of the packet requested. This may also be used foraddressing.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example Firmware command packet, which may be usedto program the firmware of a target device. The Firmware command packethas a different first byte 801 from the Firmware Request command, inthat the first byte identifies a data command. There are threeadditional fields in the data command. These may include two byte fields(805 and 806) comprising data used for error checking, identified by theleast significant byte and most significant byte of the error checkingdata word. The seventh byte 807 in the data command packet identifiesthe payload, comprising the firmware to be programmed in the device. Thepayload may comprise more than one byte, so the seventh byte field mayextend for one or more bytes.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example Bulk request command packet, which may beused to pass miscellaneous bulk data through the network. The Bulkrequest command packet may comprise six bytes of data. The first byte901 identifies the data transfer command, Bulk Request in this example.The second byte 902 identifies the target in the device to receive thebulk data. The third byte 903 identifies the most significant byte ofthe word comprising the type of bulk data. The fourth byte 904identifies the least significant byte of the word comprising the type ofbulk data. The fifth byte 905 identifies the most significant byte ofthe word comprising the index of the packet requested. The sixth byte906 identifies the least significant byte of the word comprising theindex of the packet requested.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example Bulk data command packet, which may beused to process or program the bulk data at the target processor of theintended device. The data command packet may include nine byte-lengthfield identifiers. The second through sixth bytes (1002-1006) are thesame as the field identifiers in the Bulk request command packet. Theseventh byte 1007 identifies the most significant byte of the wordcomprising the data used for error checking. The eighth byte 1008identifies the least significant byte of the word comprising the dataused for error checking. The ninth byte 1009 identifies the beginning ofthe payload, which comprises the bulk data to be programmed or processedat the target processor. The payload may comprise more than one byte, sothe eleventh byte field may extend for one or more bytes.

FIG. 11 illustrates a method for upgrading applications, such asfirmware, on a device in a network. The system layer interface 110 mayprovide functions and/or commands to implement the method, such as therequest and data commands described above. The source of the applicationupgrade may be provided remotely, such as over a network, wirelessinterface, or other interconnecting medium that may be running adifferent protocol for that run by the network containing the device toupgrade. The system layer interface 110 may provide commands toimplement a request and transfer for application data. The method mayreceive data associated with the application upgrade at an access pointin the network, at act 1101. The access point may be a USB port, serialport, wireless interface, USB drive, network bridge, or other wirelessor wired sources of data input to the network. The access point may be anode or bridge node connected to the network as well. At the accesspoint of the network, the network 300 may process the receivedapplication upgrade information, at act 1102. Examples of processinginclude packetization of the data, integrity, and error checks on thedata. The network 300 may transmit the processed application upgradedata through the underlying network 300, at act 1103.

The device may request a next packet to be transmitted across thenetwork 300, using a request command. The request command may betransmitted initially to start the application upgrade process. Therequest command may be sent after the initial packets of data related tothe application upgrade data are received at the device.

The transmission may be accomplished by the transport layer functionsprovided by the underlying network 300. The system layer interface 110may also be used to coordinate or implement functions for thetransmission. The processed data is received by the device intended forupgrade, at act 1104. The intended device may then store the receiveddata, at act 1105, in a memory such as a non-volatile flash memory,EPROM, EEPROM, or other semiconductor or solid state memory. The devicemay then verify the received data, such as by performing a checksum orother integrity check on the data, at act 1106. The device may processthe application upgrade data, at act 1107. A data command may be used toprogram the firmware or software of a target device. The data commandmay be transmitted along with the application upgrade data, or may beseparately transmitted.

The device may reprogram or upgrade its firmware or other applicationsbased on the received firmware upgrade data. Auxiliary processors in thedevice, or auxiliary processors interfaced to devices within the network300, may also be reprogrammed or upgraded.

Messaging

The system layer interface 110 may be utilized to develop messagingapplications. Messaging may be implemented as process for transmittingpackets of data comprising human-understandable information (e.g. audio,speech, tactile) from one node in the network to another node in thenetwork. The packets of data include postable, user-readable data. Themessages may include character or alphanumeric strings. Examples ofmessages include the states of devices connected to the network, sceneinformation from a home automation network, alarms, alerts, andscheduled events that may be reported. A device in the network thatsupports messaging may pass a message to a message output device, suchas an LCD-equipped switch, controller, monitor, or remote, for example.Other output devices include a speaker, a Braille terminal, hapticinterfaces, force-feedback interfaces, text message devices, or otherhuman-understandable output devices.

FIG. 12 illustrates a process that implement messaging in the homeautomation network 300. The system layer interface 110 may includecommand libraries to allow updates of the status of message displaydevices as they are added to the network. Message display devices mayinclude a messaging revision level indicating the currency of thesoftware and/or firmware included with the message display device. Thenetwork 300 initializes, at act 1202. The network 300 may performstart-up routines and boot checks, determine communication standards andoperability, and load files for operation. The network 300 loads commandlibraries, such as command libraries that implement functions for proxycommands and proxy device designations, at act 1204. The network 300 mayaccess databases or files retained in storage units in communicationwith the network 300. The network 300 may also access storage units thatare remote from the network 300, such as storage units in other networkdomains or different network types, such as non-home automationnetworks.

The network 300 identifies network devices in communication with thenetwork 300, at act 1206. The network 300 may query the network devicesin serial, or in parallel. In some exemplary embodiments, the network300 may receive a transmission from each of the network devicesindicating their presence. The network 300 determines, at act 1208,whether the message display device has a non-zero messaging displaysize. If the message display device does not have non-zero display size,the network 300 does not designate the device as an output displaydevice that may be used by the network 300. The message display devicemay be assigned by the network when a device is included or installed inthe network and when the display device has a non-zero messaging displaysize. The network 300 determines a new message display device messagingrevision level of the message display device, at act 1212. When amessage display device is added to the network, the network 300 comparesthe new message display device messaging revision level with the mostcurrent messaging revision level stored in the network, at act 1214. Ifthe new message display device messaging revision level is not currentthan the existing network stored revision level, the network 300maintains the current output display device, at act 1216. If the newmessage display device messaging revision level is more current than theexisting network stored revision level, the new message display deviceis designated as the output for network system messages to be displayed,at act 1218, and the currently designated messaging display device isde-designated as the messaging display device. The network 300 routesnetwork system messages to be displayed to the output display device, atact 1220.

The network 300 determines, at act 1222, if the message to be displayedis too long for the message display device to display, such as if thestring length of the network system message is longer than the displaysize of the output display device. If the network system message is toolong, the message may be scrolled, at act 1224. Otherwise, the outputdisplay device may display the network system message without scrolling,at act 1226. If the message is too long for device's memory, the messagemay be truncated and an ellipsis ( . . . ) may be added to the end ofthe message.

If messaging is not implemented on an existing network, the system layerinterface 110 may provide a process for transmitting and routingmessages in a network. The interface 110 may provide commands and/orfunctions for nodes within the network to request a message from anothernode, to send a message from one node to another node within thenetwork, and or to interpret the message received at a node. Theinterface 110 may provide libraries of commands and/or functions toestablish the structure of the messages, such as the length supported,and whether the messages may scroll. The application programmer may notneed to develop a new interface 110 with or within the underlyingnetwork to develop a messaging application for the network. The systemlayer interface abstraction removes the need to accommodate for thenetwork maintenance and transport protocol, and may allow a networkindependent application development environment.

Remote Device Updating

The system layer interface 110 may provide a method for updating aremote device in a network as illustrated in FIG. 13. The network mayinclude a network such as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/227,988, System for Home Automation, filed Sep. 15, 3005, which isincorporated herein by reference. The remote device may be a handheldremote for a home automation network 300 as depicted in FIG. 3. Theremote device may also include other portable or remote devices that arein communication with a network, such as portable digital assistants(PDA's), cellular phones, laptops, portable music or video players,radios, and/or other entertainment devices. The method may query devicesin the network to determine if there are devices that have notcommunicated their status to the network recently, at act 1301. This actmay accomplished by a status server in the home automation network, andthe devices may be remote controllers communicating with the homeautomation network. If the method determines that a device has notcommunicated its status recently, the network will designate thenon-responsive device as a lost device, at act 1302. The method may thendetermine, at act 1303, if a new remote device has been added to thenetwork. If the method determines that a new device has been added tothe network, the method will determine, at act 1304, if there are lostdevices in the network. If there are lost devices, the method may querythe scene server for lost device scene information, at act 1305, and mayupdate, at act 1306, the new device with the lost device's sceneinformation from the network scene server. The lost device may not beremoved from the network. It may remain designated as a lost device. Thelost device may be re-integrated with the network if the lost device isfound again or resumes communication with the network. If there are nolost devices, or after a lost device's scene information has been copiedto the new device, the network may prepare to process the nextinstruction, at act 1307.

Like the methods shown above, the sequence diagrams may be encoded in asignal bearing medium, a computer readable medium such as a memory,programmed within a device such as one or more integrated circuits, orprocessed by a controller or a computer. If the methods are performed bysoftware, the software may reside in a memory resident to or interfacedto the network, a communication interface, or any other type ofnon-volatile or volatile memory interfaced or resident to the network.The memory may include an ordered listing of executable instructions forimplementing logical functions. A logical function may be implementedthrough digital circuitry, through source code, through analogcircuitry, or through an analog source such as through an analogelectrical, audio, or video signal. The software may be embodied in anycomputer-readable or signal-bearing medium, such as a home automationnetwork carrier wave for use by, or in connection with an instructionexecutable system, apparatus, or device. Such a system may include acomputer-based system, a processor-containing system, or another systemthat may selectively fetch instructions from an instruction executablesystem, apparatus, or device that may also execute instructions.

A “computer-readable medium,” “machine-readable medium,” “computer datasignal,” “propagated-signal” medium, and/or “signal-bearing medium” maycomprise any means that contains, stores, communicates, propagates, ortransports software for use by or in connection with an instructionexecutable system, apparatus, or device. The machine-readable medium mayselectively be, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical,electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, device,or propagation medium. A non-exhaustive list of examples of amachine-readable medium would include: an electrical connection“electronic” having one or more wires, a portable magnetic or opticaldisk, a volatile memory such as a Random Access Memory “RAM”(electronic), a Read-Only Memory “ROM” (electronic), an ErasableProgrammable Read-Only Memory (EPROM or Flash memory) (electronic), oran optical fiber (optical). A machine-readable medium may also include atangible medium upon which software is printed, as the software may beelectronically stored as an image or in another format (e.g., through anoptical scan), then compiled, and/or interpreted or otherwise processed.The processed medium may then be stored in a computer and/or machinememory.

While various embodiments of the invention have been described, it willbe apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many moreembodiments and implementations are possible within the scope of theinvention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except inlight of the attached claims and their equivalents.

1. A method for updating a message display device in an automationnetwork, the method comprising: installing a message display device incommunication with the automation network, where the message displaydevice is configured to display a human-readable message indicating astatus passed to the message display device by the automation network;determining a messaging revision level indicating a currency of softwareincluded with the message display device; assigning the message displaydevice to the automation network when the message display device has anon-zero messaging display size; comparing the messaging revision levelwith a most current pre-existing messaging revision level stored in thehome automation network; wherein the most current pre-existing messagingrevision level stored in the home automation network is associated witha pre-existing display device designated as an output display device;designating the message display device as an output display device fornetwork system messages to be displayed for the automation network whenthe messaging revision level is higher than the most currentpre-existing messaging revision level stored in the automation networkand not designating the message display device as an output displaydevice when the messaging revision level is not higher than the mostcurrent pre-existing messaging revision level stored in the automationnetwork; and de-designating the pre-existing display device as an outputdisplay device when the messaging revision level is higher than the mostcurrent pre-existing messaging revision level stored in the automationnetwork.
 2. The method of claim 1, where the automation networkcomprises a sending node and a system layer interface, the system layerinterface including a command library configured to implement messagingin the automation network, the method further comprising: requesting anetwork system message from the sending node using a messaging commandselected from the command library; routing the network system messagefrom the sending node to the output display device; and processing thenetwork system message at the output display device.
 3. The method ofclaim 2, where processing the network system message comprisesdisplaying the network system message on the output display device. 4.The method of claim 3, where displaying the network system messagecomprises scrolling the network system message on the output displaydevice when the network system message has a string length greater thanor equal to a display width of the output display device.
 5. The methodof claim 3, where processing the network system message comprisestruncating the network system message and adding an ellipsis symbol toan end of the network system message when the network system message hasa string length longer than a memory width of the output display device.6. A computer program product having a non-transitory computer readablemedium tangibly embodying computer executable code for implementingmessaging in an automation network, where the automation networkincludes at least one message display device, the computer programproduct comprising: computer-executable code for installing the messagedisplay device in communication with the automation network, where themessage display device is configured to display a human-readable messageindicating a status passed to the message display device by theautomation network; computer-executable code for determining a messagingrevision level indicating a currency of software included with themessage display device; computer-executable code for assigning themessage display device to the automation network when the messagedisplay device has a non-zero messaging display size;computer-executable code for comparing the messaging revision level witha most current pre-existing messaging revision level stored in theautomation network; wherein the most current pre-existing messagingrevision level stored in the home automation network is associated witha pre-existing display device designated as an output display device;computer-executable code for designating the message display device asan output display device for network system messages to be displayed forthe automation network when the messaging revision level is higher thanthe most current pre-existing messaging revision level stored in theautomation network and not designating the message display device as anoutput display device when the messaging revision level is not higherthan the most current pre-existing messaging revision level stored inthe automation network; and computer-executable code for de-designatingthe pre-existing display device as an output display device when themessaging revision level is higher than the most current pre-existingmessaging revision level stored in the automation network.
 7. Thecomputer program product of claim 6, where the automation networkcomprises a sending node and a system layer interface, the system layerinterface including a command library configured to implement messagingin the automation network, further comprising: computer-executable codefor requesting a network system message from the sending node using amessaging command selected from the command library; computer-executablecode for routing the network system message from the sending node to theoutput display device; and computer-executable code for processing thenetwork system message at the output display device.
 8. The computerprogram product of claim 7, where the computer-executable code forprocessing the network system message comprises computer-executable codefor displaying the network system message on the output display device.9. The computer program product of claim 8, where thecomputer-executable code for displaying the network system messagecomprises computer-executable code for scrolling the network systemmessage on the output display device when the network system message hasa string length greater than or equal to a display width of the outputdisplay device.
 10. The computer program product of claim 8, where thecomputer-executable code for processing the network system messagecomprises computer-executable code for truncating the network systemmessage and adding an ellipsis symbol to an end of the network systemmessage when the network system message has a string length longer thana memory width of the output display device.